For people who love to party, it doesn’t get any better than Dec. 31 — traditionally the year’s biggest bash with revelry spilling over into the wee hours of Jan. 1.
But every ending marks a new beginning. So while the last day of 2017 sees the wind-up of Canada 150 celebrations in Ottawa and Montreal 375 celebrations in that city, it’s also the kick off to a year-long party celebrating San Antonio’s 300th birthday.
Here is a short roundup of how some places will be bringing in the New Year:
Skaters on the Canada 150 ice rink look on as fireworks explode above Centre Block’s Peace Tower during Christmas Lights Across Canada on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The light show continues nightly through Jan. 7, including on New Years Eve. CP FILE PHOTO
Ottawa
Our nation’s capital winds up an epic year of Canada 150 celebrations with free events on Parliament Hill.
Daytime activities include Hockey on the Hill, public skating at the Canada 150 Rink, entertainment by Kumpa’nia and Rhythm Works, Algonquin language lessons in the Tipi on the Hill, and more.
After nightfall, the Christmas Lights Across Canada multimedia projection show lights up the Parliament Buildings before the partying begins in earnest at the Canada 150 Closing Party on the Hill. It features DJs, hip-hop artist Kardinal Offishall, pyrotechnics, a laser show just before midnight, and more.
See app.pch.gc.ca for details.
* Across the river in Gatineau, Nimidiwin, a New Year’s Eve celebration of indigenous dance and song, takes place at the Canadian Museum of History. The free family friendly event runs from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and showcases indigenous artists from across the country including, Samantha Kigutag-Metcalfe and Cailyn DeGrandpre, Northern Cree, Susan Aglukark, the Dakhka Khwaan Dancers, and more.
Montreal
To wrap up its year-long 375th birthday celebrations, Montreal plans to make the last day of 2017 truly memorable.
Free festivities begin at noon with a giant banquet of hearty Quebecois fare — pea soup, tourtiere and pouding chomeur — at Bonsecours Market, as well as storytelling and musical performances.
Nighttime party action moves to the Clock Tower Pier in the Old Port, where there will be live music, a light show on the Jacques Cartier bridge by Moment Factory and Atomic 3, the midnight countdown and a massive fireworks display. The fun continues at an outdoor dance party until 2 a.m.
See montrealenfetes.com/en/about for details.
Josh Ramsay and his band Marianas Trench will headline the annual NYE bash in Niagara Falls this year.
Niagara Falls
Always one of Canada’s biggest bashes, the annual New Year’s Eve party at Niagara Falls just keeps getting bigger and better.
This year’s event features an all-Canadian musical lineup for the free concert at Queen Victoria Park, and not one but two fireworks displays. Performers include Simple Plan, Marianas Trench, Jess Moskaluke, the James Barker Band and more. Celebrations start at 8 p.m. with the first fireworks show at 9 p.m., and the second at midnight.
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said: “New Year’s Eve in Niagara Falls is an amazing tradition. We are thrilled to offer an exciting show again this year and we want you to come and enjoy it with us.”
For details, see niagaraparks.com/nye.
San Antonio
In Texas, New Year’s Eve is the kick-off to what promises to be a year-long party in San Antonio, which celebrates its 300th birthday in 2018.
Events on Dec. 31 include a family friendly festival with interactive art, games, music, live theatre and magic performances, a 24-metre-high Ferris wheel, and an outdoor concert featuring REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo and local musicians.
At midnight, a 20-minute musical fireworks display will light up the sky. Admission to the concert and festival is free but an enhanced package offering an up-close stage experience, gourmet food and more is available for purchase on the Tricentennial web site.
The city has been selected as one of the best places to travel in 2018 by National Geographic Traveler, Frommer’s, Fodor’s Travel and Travel + Leisure. A Tricentennial Commemorative Week is scheduled for the first week of May. See VisitSanAntonio.com/300 and SanAntonio300.org.
Key West
The centre of the so-called “Conch Republic,” Key West has a reputation for doing everything with twist and New Year’s Eve is no exception.
The annual Red Shoe Drop Celebration at the Bourbon St. Pub/New Orleans House is probably the biggest public event. It features a descending super-sized red high-heel shoe carrying a glamorously gowned drag queen named Sushi.
Seconds before midnight, the high heel — and Sushi — will be lowered from the building’s second-storey balcony toward the crowd below. As midnight strikes, Sushi will land and pop the cork on a bottle of champagne. See bourbonstpub.com.
Also in Key West, a Conch Shell Drop at Sloppy Joe’s Bar; the lowering of a “pirate wench” from atop a tall ship’s mast at the Schooner Wharf Bar and the splash-down of a huge replica Key lime wedge into a giant margarita glass at the Ocean Key Resort. See sloppyjoes.com, schoonerwharf.com or facebook.com/SunsetPierKeyWest.
For more Florida Keys events, see fla-keys.com.
New York City
On Dec. 31, NYC becomes NYE central.
More than one billion viewers worldwide are expected to tune into the annual Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in Times Square. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Jenny McCarthy, performances by Camila Cabello, Nick Jonas and Sugarland are planned.
The Times Square New Year’s Eve celebrations will feature performances by the Tongliang Athletics Dragon Dance, singer-songwriters Andy Grammer, Lauren Alaina, and more.
This year marks the 110th anniversary of the iconic ball drop in Times Square. Mounted atop One Times Square, the 5,386-kilo ball is covered with 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles and can reflect a palette of more than 16 million kaleidoscopic colours as it descends to ring in 2018.
See TimesSquareNYC.org, NewYearsEve.nyc and TimesSquareBall.net for information and to tune in.
Australian dance trouple Strange Fruit, seen here performing in Tokyo, will help ring in the New Year in Hong Kong this Dec. 31. The Melbourne-based group has performed in dozens of countries.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong knows how to throw a party and this year’s New Year’s Eve bash sees live entertainment by Australian performing arts group Strange Fruit followed by musical fireworks at midnight on Dec. 31. The action starts at 10 p.m. at the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier with the countdown and fireworks at Victoria Harbour.
Dazzling pyrotechnics will be launched at different elevations from barges in the harbour and rooftops on Hong Kong Island. A “magical stardusts” theme — inspired by dancing fairies scattering stardust blessings over the city — will light up the sky. See discoverhongkong.com/ca/see-do/events-festivals/highlight-events/countdown.jsp.